As the two women talked, Olive and Ember babbled and ate in the background.
“After so many years, Mother. What is it that has you running here? No longer think I am a foolish, selfish daughter?” Mabel recognized her tone was a bit harsh, this was her mother after all. However, the sting of her mother’s opinions had stuck with her all this time, and her last letter hadn’t been that long ago.
“Please, Mabel. You must understand my position, I do love you, but this is not the matter I intended to discuss. It’s your father Mabel,” Her mother’s voice faltered a moment and she began again. “He’s not been well this winter, sick with a fever beginning again and again...I’m here to let you know that he has passed.














